Finally. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is out. Many were waiting for it and it was worth it. Part two in the trilogy of The Hobbit takes place sixty years before The Lord of the Rings. Over two and a half hours, it’s a nice long sit-back-and-watch. The movie is exciting, adventurous and has a lot of special effects. With thirteen dwarfs by his side and the famous ring in his pocket, hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) continues his quest.

Thorin Oakenshield leads the group and together they head off to free Erebor which has been captured by the dragon Smaug for over 200 years. Wizard Gandalf is not able to accompany the group this time, so Bilbo and the dwarfs travel land and water on their own to free Erebor. On their journey they encounter many dangers and enemies, while conducting impressively choreographed combat to accomplish their mission. Surviving attacks from a skin-changer, gigantic spiders, many orks and the elves we already know so well leads them to the real danger of this quest: Smaug, a grand computersimulation.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is an exiting film, full of adventure with such an open ending that you can’t not await part three. It is a long ride, as we are used to by now, and there’s a lot going on, but here and there the movie slows down a bit to let you breathe and therefor it remains fascinating. It’s definitely a must-see, even if only to see the amazing dragon in action.